I trust Brown over Gurkhas - Lumley

Gordon Brown will unveil a new policy on Gurkha residence rights by the end of the month, campaigning actress Joanna Lumley has declared after talks with the Prime Minister.

She said: "The meeting was extremely positive. He is wholly supportive of the Gurkha cause. He is going to come up with a new solution by the end of this month.

"I trust him. I rely on him. And I know that he has now taken this matter into his own hands and so today is a very good day."

Ms Lumley said she accepted the PM would have to deal with the issue "slowly and deliberately" but added his commitment to bring forward the processing of all outstanding applications from July to May had already shown "a huge intent and purpose".

She said: "He promised he would do all he can. I do trust the Prime Minister. I know him very slightly personally and I find him to be a man of integrity.

"I think this is now in his hands. It has been in many people's hands. It has been bandied around from the Ministry of Defence to the Home Office and all kinds of different people have been dealing with it.

"Now, I feel we have got the head man, the man at the top, the leader of our entire nation and I feel absolutely confident he is going to do the right think for the Gurkhas.

"I hope we can all look at this with a steady head and realise that this is utterly achievable, utterly attainable."

"It was a friendly meeting, it was a constructive meeting," said Mr Brown's spokesman.

"The Prime Minister listened to Miss Lumley's concerns and proposals and made clear his admiration and gratitude for the Gurkhas' contribution over the years."